Proverbs 26:1
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As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
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These weather events are not seemly; neither is honoring a fool. What does "seemly" mean? The Bible uses "meet," "fit," and "right" as synonyms, and the Oxford English Dictionary states: "Seemly. Suitable to the person or the occasion; appropriate." So we easily understand, it is not suitable, appropriate, proper, or fitting to honor a fool.
Men honor fools for several reasons. They do not appreciate the danger of a fool; they do not recognize a fool; the fool is their friend; the fool is a family member; they assume kindness is always right; and they think they can help a fool by mercy and honor.
What is a fool? A fool rejects instruction (23:9), assumes he is right (12:15), rejects correction (15:10), loves to argue (19:13), talks too much (15:2), slanders people (10:18), holds heavy grudges (17:12), is very stubborn (17:10), is not successful (Eccl 10:15), enjoys mischief (10:23), or is easily deceived (14:15). This is the basis for a definition.
Now, do you know any fools? Of course, you do. How will you treat them? With honor and mercy? Or reproof and punishment? How much do you truly trust God's wisdom?
God condemns fools, and we should treat them accordingly. Fools are properly treated by avoiding them (13:20; 14:7), not talking to them (23:9; 26:4), rebuking them (26:5), and beating them (26:3); for stripes may help them (10:13; 17:10; 18:6; 19:29; 20:30).
Foolishness is bound in a child's heart, but the rod will drive it far away (22:15). So rather than honoring a foolish child, teach him wisdom with reproof and a rod (29:15).
Honor to a fool will increase their foolishness (30:22), and it will encourage others to be fools (21:11). Fools might consider their folly, if everyone rejected and rebuked them. Rulers may violate this proverb by honoring fools and servants (Eccl 10:5-7), and such a nation is in peril. Labor unions, child rights, and freedom of speech are typical examples.
Jesus would not honor fools, and He died for it; because the Pharisees and other religious fools could not stand his life, answers, and condemnation (Mark 3:1-6; Matt 23:1-39).
Fools should be despised, so we have a simile to compare honoring them with unnatural weather and a farming disaster. Snow in summer is not right; it is contrary to nature: and rain can ruin a harvest, when farmers try to get a season's crops into storage. Neither of these events is right, useful, or desired; and they cause trouble, confusion, and loss.
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